2 6 June 2005

News:

The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, launched on 14 June the Employment Practices Data Protection Code. The Code is an edited consolidation of previous versions of the Code and is consistent with the Commissioner’s strategy plan which aims to simplify data protection legislation and make compliance easier for those organisations who wish to do the right thing. However, the Information Commissioner also warns that there will be an increased focus on enforcement with harsher action against organisations that do not make attempts to comply.

Legislation backed by the Council of Ministers requiring internet service providers (ISPs) and telephone companies to save customer communication data is set to proceed despite being rejected by the European Parliament.

Data Protection Law & Policy is organising on Friday July 15 a half-day Briefing ‘Data Protection & the Retail Industry 2005’ focusing on RFID technology, the use of CCTV and other key issues facing retailers.

Features:

Imagine that you are a second generation dot.com entrepreneur - you missed the first boom but are ready to profit big time from the next wave. You run a creative and hip operation that relies on the latest web technology. Your commercial ambition knows no limits and you think that the internet is there to be exploited fearlessly. You also know very well what your target audience wants - the latest screensavers, the wackiest screen cursors and, above all, free online games. In order to make big bucks, you are prepared to disguise toolbars and pop-up advertisements that will magically appear on your customers’ browsers. But then, the unexpected happens. In the same way that thousands of your customers got carried away downloading the latest gimmicks for their PCs, you forgot to come clean and on a spring day, a legal claim for millions of dollars appears through your letterbox.

RFID offers significant benefits to business and consumers. Robert Bond, a partner at Faegre & Benson looks at how data protection concerns can be reconciled with the developing technology

Managing privacy is a continuous process that poses many challenges. Terry McQuay, President & privacy educator of Nymity Inc examines how organisations can manage privacy compliance effectively

Failure to process information accurately can be costly for both organisations and individuals. Susan Milnes, Data Protection Manager at Transport for London examines how mistakes can be minimised

The Data Protection Directive provides various instruments for companies to transfer data across international borders. Jeroen Terstegge, Corporate Privacy Officer at Royal Philips Electronics argues the case for Binding Corporate Rules

Spanish data protection law is one of the strictest in Europe, particularly the rules governing e-marketing. Raquel Xalabarder of Jiménez de Parga (Barcelona) and a member of the Privacy and Information Law Unit of the European Legal Alliance examines the issues.